Eutelsat 28A

Eutelsat 28A
Name	Eutelsat 28A
Mission type	Communications
Operator	Eutelsat
Cospar id	2001-043A
Satcat	26935
Mission duration	12 years (design)
Launch mass	3044 kg
Power	6.5 kW
Launch date	2001-08-18
Launch rocket	Ariane 44L
Launch site	Guiana Space Centre
Launch contractor	Arianespace
Orbit reference	Geocentric orbit
Orbit regime	Geostationary orbit
Orbit longitude	28.2° East
Transponders	28 Ku-band
Programme	Eutelsat fleet
Previous mission	Eutelsat 28B
Next mission	Eutelsat 33B

Eutelsat 28A is a geostationary communications satellite that provided direct-to-home and fixed satellite services across Europe and parts of North Africa. Built by Alcatel Space (now part of Thales Alenia Space) and launched by Arianespace on an Ariane 4 rocket from the Guiana Space Centre, it formed part of the Eutelsat fleet at the 28.2° East orbital slot used by broadcasters and service providers. The satellite carried Ku-band transponders to serve broadcasters, telecom operators, and corporate networks connected via gateways and teleport facilities.

Design and Specifications

Eutelsat 28A was based on the Spacebus 3000B2 platform developed by Alcatel Alenia Space and designed to support payloads similar to satellites such as Hot Bird 6, Nilesat 101, and Eurobird 1. The spacecraft bus integrated power systems, thermal control, and attitude control modules akin to designs used by Eutelsat 3A and Eutelsat 16A. Its mass at launch was comparable to contemporaries like Astra 2A and Tele-X, and its electrical power—generated by solar arrays and stored in batteries—aligned with industry standards exemplified by Intelsat 707 and SES Americom AMC-1. Propulsion used bipropellant systems similar to those on Eutelsat 33C and station-keeping techniques paralleled operational practices at SES S.A. and Telesat.

Launch and Deployment

The satellite was launched on an Ariane 44L from the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana, in a mission conducted by Arianespace. The launch vehicle configuration had heritage with missions such as Ariane 42L and later upgrades embodied in Ariane 5 flights. After separation, the spacecraft used its apogee motor to transfer from a geosynchronous transfer orbit into a geostationary slot, a profile similar to those executed for Intelsat 707 and Hispasat 1C. Technical coordination involved teams from CNES, ESA, and industrial partners including Thales Alenia Space.

Operational History

Eutelsat 28A entered commercial service carrying channels and services operated by broadcasters comparable to Sky UK, Channel 4, and Freesat stakeholders, and supported capacity leased by telecoms such as BT Group, Deutsche Telekom, and Orange S.A.. Its operational life involved in-orbit maneuvers for station-keeping, anomaly resolution with support from flight dynamics units like those used by SES, and coordination with regulatory bodies including the International Telecommunication Union. Throughout service it interacted with neighboring craft at adjacent longitudes such as Astra 2D and Eurobird 9A to mitigate interference and adhere to orbital slot protocols exemplified by cases involving Intelsat and Eutelsat coordination.

Payload and Coverage

The payload consisted of 28 Ku-band transponders configured for direct-broadcast television and data services, comparable in capability to the payloads on Astra 2A and Hot Bird 7A. Its coverage beams targeted the United Kingdom, Ireland, much of continental Europe, and parts of North Africa, intersecting market areas served historically by Eurobird 3 and Astra 1KR. Service profiles included video distribution for broadcasters analogous to BBC Television, ITV plc, and BSkyB, as well as contribution links used by media groups like RTL Group and M6 Group. Uplink gateways and teleports operated by providers such as Arqiva and Telespazio interfaced with the satellite.

Ownership and Naming History

Originally manufactured by Alcatel Space and operated under the Eutelsat commercial banner, the satellite’s ownership and commercial designation were managed within the corporate framework similar to asset portfolios of SES S.A. and Intelsat. Naming conventions in the sector have seen satellites rebranded across missions, a practice observed with Eutelsat Hot Bird series and Astra satellites. Corporate transactions and fleet reorganizations in firms comparable to Eutelsat and Eurazeo shaped satellite roster management across European operators.

Ground Control and Operations

Flight operations and mission control were conducted from Eutelsat ground control centers, adhering to operational standards used by control centers such as those at Arianespace and Thales Alenia Space facilities. Telemetry, tracking, and command (TT&C) links were maintained via regional ground stations and network operators similar to ESOC and telco-operated complexes, while network management interfaced with broadcasters' uplink facilities like those run by Arqiva and SES Astra. Routine operations included payload reconfigurations, beam switching, and lifecycle management practices aligned with industry case studies such as Intelsat 20 operations.

Decommissioning and Legacy

After reaching end of service, decommissioning procedures followed international guidelines advocated by UN COPUOS and practices used in retirements like Astra 1G and Telstar 12: the satellite was boosted to a graveyard orbit to mitigate debris risks and spectrum coordination ceased in consultation with the International Telecommunication Union. Its operational legacy includes contribution to the proliferation of direct-to-home broadcasting in markets impacted by satellites such as Astra 2D and Hot Bird 6, and its service record informed design and operational lessons applied to later Eutelsat platforms and successors in fleets operated by SES, Intelsat, and Telesat.

Category:Communications satellites Category:2001 in spaceflight